‘It will take forever’: Transmission advocates urge quicker buildout pace in Trump 2.0

Kent Chandler, former chair of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, said “the greatest immediate opportunity” under the executive branch’s authority is speeding up new transmission projects crossing federal land — crossings that historically face an uphill battle because the land is subject to more environmental regulations.

But a lot of hurdles would be better addressed by federal lawmakers and agencies in charge of approving the infrastructure, added Chandler, who is now a resident senior fellow in energy and environmental policy at the free market think tank R Street Institute. Permitting reform that targets existing laws and regulatory authorities, for instance, is something only Congress can tackle.

“Many of the other federal barriers to transmission development need FERC or congressional direction, where immediate executive action may not be appropriate or helpful,” he said.